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Endodontic Retreatment

Most treated teeth last as long as other natural teeth. However, in a small percentage of endodontic cases, treated teeth do not heal properly or cause persistent discomfort. These symptoms can be caused by a number of reasons, and can emerge months or even years after treatment. Improper healing may be caused by:

• Curved or narrow canals were not treated during the initial treatment.
• Complicated canals went undetected during the initial treatment.
• The crown or restoration was not placed within the appropriate amount of time following the procedure.
• The crown or restoration did not prevent saliva from contaminating the inside of the tooth.

In some cases, new problems can influence a tooth that was successfully treated:

• New decay can expose a root canal filling material, causing infection.
• A cracked or loose filling or crown can expose the tooth to new infection.

If retreatment is required, the original treatment material will be removed and the area will be thoroughly cleaned, sealed and protected with a temporary restoration. Your restorative dentist will then replace the temporary restoration with a permanent one.